Self-waiting dining-table.



L. ti. JOHNSTON. SELF WAITING DINING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1909. 938,242. Patented Oct. 26, 1909 2 BHEETS-SHEET 1 3114mm for,

L. E. JOHNSTON.

SELF WAITING DINING TABLE.

APPLIGATIOYN FILED MAY 19. 1909.

938,242. Patented 0ct.26,1909.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

' UNITED STATES PATENT oniuon.

LAWRENCE E. JOHNSTON, OF BOSS, MISS OURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T WILLIAM L.

' NELSON, 0F BOSS, MISSOURI. I

SELF-WAITING DINING-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2c, 1909.

Application filed. May 19, 1909. Serial N 0. 496,983.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE E. JOHNS- j'ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boss post-ofiice; in the county of Dent and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Waiting Dining-Tables,-of which the following is a specification.

The present invention supplies a dining table provided with a self-waiting attachment of novel and peculiar formation enabling diners to help themselves without annoyance or inconvenience to others or to themselves, the construction being such that by operating a shaft concealed from view but within convenient reach, an auxiliary table may be rotated to bring any desired article thereon within convenlent reach.

The "invention contemplates in combination with a dining table of any construction,

an auxiliary table mounted to rotate, and

an actuatin means accessible from different points to a mit of any one of a number of persons about the table'rotating the auxiliary table to bring any desired article thereon within convenient reaching distance.

Fora full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following de scription and the accompanying drawings, the novel features being indicated in the appended claim. 7

It is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of the specification:l*igure 1 is a percated in all the views ofthe drawing by the .same characters of reference.

The table comprises the top 1, supporting frame 2 and leg or center post 3 provided with the usual feet 4. The table top 1 is provided with a central opening to receive the lower portion of the frame 5 of the auxiliary. table 6, constituting the essential part of the self-waiting attachment.- As indicated most clearly in Fig. 3, the supporting frame 2 is strengthened by cross pieces 7 which are tenoned at their ends into the frame 2 and have their center portions reduced in thickness and halved as indicated in Fig. 4. Braces 8 connect adjacent end portions of the cross bars 7 Shafts 9 are mounted in the braces 8 and frame 2 and are disposed about the table to be conveniently reached from any position so that a person seated at the table may operate one of the shafts to bring the self-waiting attachment to the-required position so that the article placed thereon may be obtained. The outer ends of the shafts 9 project beyond the frame 2 and are provided with hand pieces 10 to beconveniently and firmly gripped when it is required to rotate the shafts 9 to bring the auxiliary table 6 to the required position. the inner ends'of the shafts 9 and mesh with a gear wheel 12 connected with the auxiliary table or self waiting attachment.

A vertical journal 13 extends upwardly from the center of the supporting framework of the table top and is connected at its lower end to a cross 14 the arms of which are firmly attached to the cross bars 7 at or near their points ofintersection. The vertical journal 13 forms the axis about which the self-waiting attachment turns. The cross 1 f consists of an iron or casting formed in any manner and serves to strengthen the cross bars 7 at their point of intersection.

The auxiliary table 6 is smaller than the table top 1 and is provided upon its lower side with a frame-work 5 comprising crossed bars halved together at the point of crossing and having their end portions reduced in thickness so that the center portion may enter the opening formed in the center of the table top 1. The gear wheel 12 is secured to the thickened center portion of the framework 5 and is centrally apertured-to receive the vertical journal 13 and a sleeve 15 mounted upon the vertical journal .so as to turn freely thereon with the gear wheel 12, frame 5, and auxiliary table 6. The sleeve 15 is secured within an opening extending through the center of the parts 5, 6 and. 12 and projects above the vertical journal 13 to Gearwheels 11 are fastened to receive a pin 16 pendent entrally froma A turn with thetable 6 or may be moved independently of the table 6 by direct application of force thereto, the pin 16 turning in the upper end of the sleeve 15. It is to be understood that the friction between the pin 1 16 and sleeve 15 is ample under ordinary conditions to cause the table .17 to rotate With the table 6 when operating any one of the shafts 9.

It will be noticed that the outer portion of the frame-work 5 overhangs the inner portion of the table top 1 bordering upon the center opening formed therein, hence, tipping of the table (3 is prevented. The gear wheel 12 is provided centrally with a pendent boss which obtains a bearing upon the iron or cross 14 at the base of the journal 13, thereby supporting the auxiliary table (3. The gear wheel 12 is further supported by the intermeshing of its teeth with the teeth of the gear wheels 11. The lower end of the pin 16 rests upon the vertical journal 13, hence, the weight of the table 17 and articles placed thereon is supported directly by means of the post or like parts 3 through the vertical journal 13 and cross bars 7. Any one of a number ot persons seated about the table may by operating any one of the shafts 9 ellcct a turning ot' the auxiliary table-or tables to bring any article placed thereon in convenient position to be reached, thereby preventing any discomfort or annoyance to the remaining persons.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In a self-waiting dining table, the combination of a main table comprising a top having a central opening, a framework be-- neath the top comprising crossed bars re duced in thickness at their point of crossing and halved together, an iron mounted upon the reduced or cut away portions of the crossed bars and provided at a central point with a vertical journal, an auxiliary table having a frame-work upon its lower side whose end portions are reduced to overlap the top of the main table and whose center portion enters the opening in the top of the main table, a gear wheel secured to the cen- (er portion of the auxiliary table frame-. 

